Genetic selection could be a new tool to thwart bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle, according to research at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Focused on the genetic analysis of BRD and lung consolidation in dairy calves. BRD incidence has not changed in the past 20 years, despite producers’ proactive calf management processes. BRD has only short-term effects on calves but impacts long-term implications to lifetime production outcomes.
Genomics, when combined with ultrasound inspection could be new tools to combat bovine respiratory
disease (BRD) and increase accuracy of predictions.
Source: Hoard’s Dairyman,February 25, 2019. In this study:
- the Wisconsin calf health scoring system was used to score calves clinically
- a lung ultrasound was performed on each calf to measure lung consolidation
- among the reference population, 18.9 percent of calves scanned at 3 weeks of age had some form of BRD, whereas 22.9 percent of calves were affected with BRD at 6 weeks of age.
- low correlations between lung ultrasound scores and clinical scores of calves clarify the need of ultrasound to better detect pneumonia.
INSIGHTS: Kudos to Allison Quick and Kent Weigel for continuing the effort to battle BRD. This type of work is a testament to the dedication animal health pros have to remove health barriers for animals in our care.